PRACTITIONERS

Tui Na

Tui Na is one of four main branches of Chinese medicine; its sister therapies are acupuncture, herbal medicine and Qi Gong.

Tui na uses a wide range of massage techniques from rolling and pressing, to shaking, grasping and vibrating. These techniques can be applied as powerful physical techniques or used very gently and subtly. The techniques are used to stimulate the points and channels of the web-like meridian system, and the soft tissues, sinews and organs.

Tui na has been used for over 4000 years in China to treat illnesses and to maintain health. All of our Tui na practitioners are also trained acupuncturists and have a thorough understanding of the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This knowledge is essential in order to make a diagnosis according to these principles and to formulate an appropriate plan of treatment suitable to your needs.

Tui na can be used alongside acupuncture treatment or as an alternative to acupuncture for people who are fearful of needles.

Because Tui na massage can be very relaxing, it is particularly useful to relieve anxiety and stress, promote relaxation and aid sleep.

Specialist Infantile Tui na is very famous and popular in China for the treatment of babies and children. Read More– see Infantile Tui Na

What happens when you come for treatment? A full case history will be taken. You will be asked questions about your past history, lifestyle, digestion, sleeping patterns and emotional state as well as questions relating to your main complaint. Your practitioner will look at your tongue, the structure, colour and coating of which give a good guide to your health. They will also feel the pulses at your wrists noting the quality, strength, rhythm and speed. The tongue and pulses give a clear picture of the energetic state of the internal organs and vital substances of the body. They will also feel points and along channels and muscles for further information. Your practitioner will then make a diagnosis according to the principles of Oriental Medicine and create a Tui na treatment appropriate to your individual needs.

Treatment is applied either over loose clothing and a Tui na cloth, or directly onto the skin if an external herbal media is to be applied.

What does Tui na feel like?
Tui na treatment can be very dynamic and moving or very subtle and gentle depending on the nature of the treatment to be given.

Tui na feels deep, warming and rhythmic. The treatment itself involves the use of a wide range of specific manual techniques all of which have particular therapeutic effects.

What is Tui na treatment good for?
Tui na is often used in combination with acupuncture treatment or as an alternative to acupuncture for those who are fearful of needles. Meridians and Points are stimulated with the hands thumbs and fingers using various techniques like pressure, kneading, vibration, rolling and grasping and pushing.

Tui na can be used for deep relaxation, stress relief and general well being.

The Chinese National Tui na Association established in 1987 holds regular meetings for Tui na practitioners to share their clinical experiences and offer papers on their work. Although there are many clinical papers and areas of research into the effectiveness of Tui na in China, very little specific research has come out of the West as yet. This is probably because the Tui na community is still new and therefore small, especially in the UK.

Because of this lack of western research and the rules of the ASA (Advertising Standards Agency) we cannot say with evidence based research that Tui na treats specific problems. However, we can say that in the Tui na departments within the hospitals of Traditional Chinese medicine throughout China Tui na treatment is given for a wide range of complaints. It is especially popular in the treatment of painful muscular and joint conditions such as back pain, sciatica, arthritis cervical spondylosis, tennis elbow, soft tissue injuries, stiffness and restricted mobility.

It is also commonly used in the treatment of digestive ailments, menstrual problems and headaches and is employed alongside acupuncture in the treatment of numbness, hemiplegia and for post stroke rehabilitation. Infantile Tui na is widely written about and hugely popular for the treatment of babies and young children.